A cytochemical study on feline blood cells.

Cytochemical characteristics of the feline blood cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow were examined with various staining methods. The neutrophilic cells showed the distinct positive reactions of peroxidase, naphthol-AS-D-chloroacetate esterase, phosphorylase, Sudan black B and periodic acid Schiff. The eosinophilic cells exhibited a marked acid phosphatase activity. The monocytes disclosed the characteristic positive reaction in the esterase staining using alpha-naphthyl acetate, alpha-naphthyl butyrate or naphthol-AS-acetate as a substrate. About the half of the lymphocytes exhibited the granularly positive reactions in acid phosphatase, esterase and beta-glucuronidase stainings. Of these cytochemical reactions, the positive reactions of the neutrophilic cells in phosphorylase and periodic acid Schiff stainings gradually increased in intensity according to their maturation. On the contrary, the immature neutrophils reacted more intensely than the mature ones in peroxidase, naphthol-AS-D-chloroacetate esterase and Sudan black B stainings. Similarly, the activities of acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and dehydrogenases in the neutrophilic, erythrocytic and megakaryocytic series gradually decreased in intensity according to their maturation. These cytochemical properties of the feline blood cells were considered to be the valuable markers indicating the blood cell line and the degree of maturation.